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A Hero’s Farewell: Last Call Sounds For Veteran Fire Chief Robert Stewart

Funeral services were held Wednesday for Robert Stewart, the former chief of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. He was 62.

Stewart answered his first fire call in Escambia County 35 years ago, serving in the Bratt then the Walnut Hill department.

For a photo gallery, click here.

He received a full fireman’s funeral. Stewart’s flag draped coffin was carried open-air on the back of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s Engine 1511 from his funeral service at Petty-Eastside Chapel in Atmore, through downtown Atmore and to Godwin Cemetery in Bratt. The procession included fire trucks and law enforcement from across the area.

The truck carrying Stewart’s remains was driven by his son, Sam, who was joined by his grandson, Drew, as Engine 1511 entered the cemetery under a giant American flag flown by ladder trucks from Century and Pace. A John Deere tractor stood as the procession entered the cemetery –  Stewart enjoyed playing and watching at tractors with his young grandson.

A fireman’s bell tolled in his honor, and an Escambia County Fire dispatcher conducted a “last call” over the county’s fire radio system to his former radio number “1501″.

“Escambia to 1501″, the dispatcher called twice with no response.

“Escambia to Chief Robert Stewart,” the dispatcher said, her voice resounding across the handheld radios at the service.

The radio silence was broken again, this time by tones used to alert firefighters to important information, followed by:

“There is no response from Chief Robert Stewart. Chief Robert Stewart has answered his last call. The members of the Walnut Hill Fire Department wish to thank Chief Robert Stewart for his years of service to the citizens of Escambia County. Although you are gone, you will never be forgotten. Escambia clear.”

Following the last call, a LifeFlight helicopter approached the funeral service from the eastern horizon. The front of the helicopter “dipped” and bowed in respect before flying away.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Years of Service

Robert Stewart retired as the department’s chief in 2008 after 30 years of service as a volunteer fireman in Bratt and Walnut Hill, the last 15 of those years as chief of the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. He retired to spend more time with his grandson “Little Man” and to fight cancer. He later became active again in the department as his health permitted.

Stewart answered his first fire call in 1967 after the formation of the Bratt Volunteer Fire Department. The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club founded the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in 1964 and donated a  truck to form the Bratt department three years later.

For 10 years, he served the Bratt community as a volunteer fireman until Bratt VFD’s truck finally “wore out”. Walnut Hill and the Atmore Fire Department began answering calls in the Bratt community in 1977.

He was out of a volunteer fire department for about 10 years, until he joined the Walnut Hill VFD in 1987. For 21 straight years, he served the Walnut Hill department — the last 15 of those years as chief.

Stewart is survived by his wife of 43½ years, Diann Stewart, daughter Kelly Kennedy of California, son Sam Stewart of Bratt and host of other relatives.

Pictured: Funeral services were held Wednesday for former Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Stewart. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Special thanks to Ramona Preston, Kristi Smith and Dale Johnson for contributing to the photo gallery.